Inquiries Bill

The Joint Committee on Human Rights, a parliamentary committee made up of members of both Houses of Parliament which monitors the compatibility of legislation with the European Convention of Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998, published its report on the Inquiries Bill. The Committee voiced...

The Inquiries Bill as amended by the House of Lords in Committee and at the Report stage, and with further proposed government amendments highlighted in red. These (very minor) amendments will be discussed at the Third Reading in the House of Lords on the 28th.

The Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) prepared a preliminary commentary on the Inquiries Bill dated December 2004 previously circulated to all Members of the House of Lords. We have subsequently had two exchanges of correspondence with Baroness Ashton and these exchanges are available...

The family of murdered solicitor Pat Finucane last night (Thursday) described talks with United States special envoy Mitchell Reiss as "constructive". Mr Finucane's widow Geraldine is understood to have made Mr Reiss aware of the family's concerns that a British government inquiry into her husband's...

The Minister decides on the composition of the panel and the terms of reference of the inquiry without the need for consultation with the chair or any other persons or bodies who might have a legitimate interest in the inquiry. It is obviously not always in the Minister’s interest to ensure a wide...

This bill does not comply with the recommendations of Judge Cory. The British Government agreed at Weston Park that "In the event that a public inquiry is recommended [by Cory] in any case, the relevant government will implement that recommendation".

The Lord Falconer of Thoroton has made the following statement under section 19(1)(a) of the Human Rights Act 1998: In my view the provisions of the Inquiries Bill are compatible with the Convention rights.

The family of Pat Finucane left today's meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair with as many questions as answers according to Michael Finucane, son of the murdered Belfast solicitor.

Geraldine Finucane and her family will travel to Downing Street for tomorrow's meeting with Prime Minister Tony Blair. Joining her family on this significant meeting will be the family's legal adviser Peter Madden and Jane Winter, Director of London based human rights group British Irish Rights...

As I said when publishing Justice Cory’s reports, the Government is determined that where there are allegations of collusion the truth should emerge. The Government has consistently made clear that in the case of the murder of Patrick Finucane, as well as in the other cases investigated by Justice...